Minister promises review into deaths of mother and son in Cork hospital

An independent review is to be carried out into the death of a mother-of-three and her son in Cork University Maternity Hospital this week, Minister for Health Simon Harris has announced.

Mr Harris said the review would be conducted under the auspices of Dr Peter McKenna, head of the HSE woman and infant health programme.

The review is separate from an investigation into the deaths of Marie Downey and her son Darragh ordered by the South South West Hospital Group, which includes CUMH. Mr Harris said that in the circumstances it would not be appropriate for the hospital or hospital group alone to investigate the deaths.

He said his thoughts and sympathies were with the family. “This is an extraordinary tragedy. It is so upsetting and devastating to have a mother and her son pass away in one of our hospitals.”

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Ms Downey, who is survived by her husband Kieran and two other sons James and Seán, will repose at her home in Kildorrery, Co Cork on Friday. Her removal to St Michael’s Church, Ballyagran, Co Limerick, takes place at requiem mass at 1pm on Saturday, with burial afterwards in Castletown Cemetery. Darragh is expected to be buried with his mother.

Marie Downey was found dead on the floor of her single room on Monday morning. Her son Darragh was found underneath his mother. He died at the hospital on Tuesday evening.

A hospital source confirmed Ms Downey had epilepsy. One of the lines of inquiry the hospital’s investigation will look at is whether she may have had a seizure while breastfeeding her baby and fell out of the bed.

The Limerick woman worked at Novartis Pharmaceutical Company in Ringaskiddy.

A postmortem was carried out on Ms Downey’s remains on Tuesday and a postmortem will be carried out on her baby on Thursday. The results of both will be included in a file that gardaí will prepare for an inquest at Cork City Coroner’s Court.

The CUMH investigation will be carried out by its medical team, and management will look at any recommendations regarding changes in care and practices that follow from the investigation.

Fr Eamonn Kelleher, parish priest of Kildorrery, said it was "an awful tragedy" for the parish and in particular for the people of Knockanevin, a "close knit"community. "There is terrible sadness, that cross is on the shoulders of Kieran and the Downey family."

Novartis Pharmaceutical described her as a “valued member of our team” and she would be “fondly remembered”.